After the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, the use of face-masks is considered the most effective way to prevent the spread of virus-containing respiratory fluid. As the virus targets the lungs directly, causing shortness of breath, continuous respiratory monitoring is crucial for evaluating health status. Therefore, the need for a smart face mask (SFM) capable of wirelessly monitoring human respiration in real-time has gained enormous attention. However, some challenges in developing these devices should be solved to make practical use of them possible. One key issue is to design a wearable SFM that is biocompatible and has fast responsivity for non-invasive and real-time tracking of respiration signals. Herein, we present a cost-effective and straightforward solution to produce innovative SFMs by depositing graphene-based coatings over commercial surgical masks. In particular, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are integrated into a polycaprolactone (PCL) polymeric matrix. The resulting SFMs are characterized morphologically, and their electrical, electromechanical, and sensing properties are fully assessed. The proposed SFM exhibits remarkable durability (greater than1000 cycles) and excellent fast response time (∼42 ms), providing simultaneously normal and abnormal breath signals with clear differentiation. Finally, a developed mobile application monitors the mask wearer's breathing pattern wirelessly and provides alerts without compromising user-friendliness and comfort.

Pedobarography and gait analysis are crucial components of healthcare, given their close association with chronic illnesses. Wearable electronics, such as smart insole systems, have emerged as a promising technology for remote and long-term gait monitoring, providing more accurate data in real time. To meet the demands of wearable electronics, components with both flexibility and sensitivity are crucial. This study employed low-cost and rapid prototyping techniques to develop a flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor with a graphene nanoplatelet/ polycaprolactone composite spray-deposited on a fiber-based commercial insole. The sensor demonstrated a pressure range of up to 400 kPa and high linear sensitivity (∼ 0.376 kPa-1), making it suitable for pedobarography. Additionally, to test its practical application, the sensor was linked to a low-power programmable data logging and transmitting device for data acquisition over custom designed android application. The sensor can differentiate various motion states, such as walking, jumping, and running, while also demonstrating potential for long-term stability.

Thanks to advancements in silicon photomultiplier sensors (SiPMs) and system-on-chip (SoC) technology, our INFN Roma1 group developed ArduSiPM in 2012, the first all-in-one scintillator particle detector in the literature. It used a custom Arduino Due shield to process fast signals, utilizing the Microchip Sam3X8E SoC’s internal peripherals to control and acquire SiPM signals. The availability of radiation-tolerant SoCs, combined with the goal of reducing system space and weight, led to the development of an innovative second-generation board, a better-performing device called Cosmo ArduSiPM, suitable for space missions. The architecture of the new detector is based on the Microchip SAMV71 300 MHz, 32-bit ARM^® Cortex^®-M7 (Microchip Technology Inc., Chandler, AZ, USA). While the analog front-end is essentially identical to the ArduSiPM, it utilizes components with the smallest possible package. The board fits in a CubeSat module. Thanks to the compact design, the board has two independent channels, with a total weight of only 40 grams within a CubeSat form factor. The ArduSiPM architecture is based on a single microcontroller and fast discrete analog electronics. It benefits from the continued development of SoCs related to the IoT (Internet of Things) market. Compared with a system with a custom ASIC, this architecture based on software and SoC capabilities offers considerable advantages in terms of cost and development time. The ability to incorporate new commercial SoCs, continuously emerging from advancements in the aerospace and automotive industries, provides the system with a robust foundation for sustained growth over the years. A detailed characterization of the hardware and the system’s response to different photon fluxes is presented in this article. Additionally, coupling the device with a scintillator was tested at the end of this article as a preliminary trial for future measurements, showing potential for further enhancement of the detector’s capabilities.

In this paper, a novel graphene-based thermal sensor was prepared by coating Polyvinylidene fluoride or polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) / Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) on commercial textiles. The obtained graphene-coated textile functioned as a thermocouple and exhibited exceptional electrical and thermal characteristics, along with flexibility, chemical stability, and corrosion resistance. The sensor's sensitivity was enhanced by combining two thermocouples based on the thermopile principle, resulting in an open circuit voltage of 2.5 mV at a temperature differential of 32°C, enabling reliable temperature monitoring for a variety of applications. Furthermore, the produced graphene-based thermal sensors demonstrated a fast response time of 1.5 seconds, making them more durable and adaptable compared to conventional alternatives. This graphene-based thermal sensor represents a significant advancement in temperature measurement technology, offering enhanced precision and reliability in industrial and research settings.